Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“I find that hard to believe, slut,” he spat, loud enough for people around us to hear.
He slammed his hand against the wall next to my head, causing people to look up from their conversations.
I breathed out slowly, ignoring the stares, and side-stepped away from him.
Any response I gave was not going to make the situation any better, and I needed to get out of there.
I slipped into class quickly, putting distance between us.
I was shaking, but it was done, and it was done without me shedding a single tear in front of him.
After that, I knew I’d make it through the day as planned, avoiding him at all costs.
* * *
I practically broke into a jog headed out to the parking lot, feeling eternally grateful that my mom let me borrow the Durango.
I had made it all day without running into Zack again.
I’d hung out, tucked in a chair in one of the study lounges after my last lecture, hoping I could leave campus while there was a lull in transitions between classes.
Our earlier confrontation had been working its way into my mind, and the word “slut” kept bouncing around, causing pain wherever it landed. I’d kept it together all day, but as soon as I hit the parking lot, the tears had started to form.
You are so very stupid , I thought as they stung my eyes.
My vision blurred as I searched through the too-large bag for the keys .
Damn it!
My hands were furiously fishing in all corners of the bag when I heard his voice.
“You look like you could use some help, babe.”
Do NOT let him see you cry.
I did everything in my power to continue looking through my bag and avoid glancing upward until I absolutely had to.
“Did we not establish that this,” I gestured between the two of us, “was over? I thought that was pretty clear when you called me a slut in front of the entire west hall not four hours ago.”
“Eh, you pissed me off,” he shrugged. “Plus, you have to admit, you did spread those pretty legs fairly quick—”
“You’re a sociopath. Get the fuck away from me.” I glared at him, hoping the expression on my face was defiant. Tears gone, I stood up and squared my shoulders, determined to appear more sure of myself than I was.
“Aw, why? I was hoping I could get a re-play of the other night. I know how much you like the backseat of my car.”
“I’m sure you can call Jenna. Or any other number of girls who fawn over your very existence.”
“Is that what this is? You’re jealous because I hang out with other girls? God, you are such a freshman. Just come here and let me show you they don’t matter.” He flashed me an arrogant grin and I cringed involuntarily—at both the insult and the thought of being alone with him.
“I do not know how to be clearer that I’m done with whatever this was. And right now, I’m going home.” I swore internally at my shaking hands.
“Yeah, I’m thinking that’s not really your call,” he said, his voice taking on a pitying tone.
“Who else’s call would it be?”
He took a slow step towards me, and regretfully, I flinched, making him grin even more. Alarm bells were ringing in my head, and I quickly looked around the parking lot .
Where the hell is everyone?
I realized too late that parking in the far corner of the lot didn’t do me any favors.
“Don’t worry baby, we’re alone.” He pressed me against the SUV and brought his lips to my neck.
“Zack, seriously, get off me.” I put my hands on his chest and pushed, not moving him an inch.
“I hear a proposition in there somewhere,” he whispered in my ear. My heart thudded in my chest.
Get out of here .
I attempted to take a step to my right, but he grabbed my wrist harshly and pinned it to the car.
“Let go of me. Now. We are done here.” Thankfully, my voice sounded strong. “We are done, period, you son of a bitch.”
I didn’t even see him move, but felt my head jerk sideways and the snapping sound of his hand on my cheek before a searing pain radiated through my jaw. These tears were impossible to hold back, and I choked on any words that might have been on the tip of my tongue.
“Again, that’s not really your call.” His voice was flat now. I pressed my hand against my cheek and kept my eyes cast towards the ground, willing myself to think of a way to get out of this. The air around me was not cooperating with my lungs.
Just tell him you’ll meet him later. Lie, lie, lie, lie .
I began to straighten up, and as my frightened eyes found his glaring ones, he was suddenly and forcefully pulled backward onto the asphalt.
“You are so going to regret the last five minutes.”
I took in the sight of Luke placing his body between me and Zack, never having been so happy to see him in my life.
I heard a laugh, but there was no humor behind it. “Seriously Miller? Walk away before you cause yourself more trouble than she’s worth.”
“Yeah, okay, so new rule. From this moment, you don’t speak to or about her. Ever.”
Zack had gotten to his feet and was shooting daggers at us both. I could practically feel the fury radiating off Luke’s shoulders, his fists clenched and his muscles rigid.
“Get fucked, man. What do you actually think is going to happen right now?” he practically spat at Luke.
“I think if you take one step towards Vanessa, I’m going to punch you in the face. That’s what I think is going to happen. So maybe you just walk back to your douche-mobile and get the fuck out of here.”
Luke was bigger than Zack by probably twenty-five pounds, but I was frozen in place by the idea of them fighting. What would I even do?
He’s not seriously going to-
The rest of that thought was lost in the sound of Luke’s fist connecting with Zack’s jaw, sending him effectively back to the pavement.
“Or maybe I don’t actually care if you take a step.
Don’t.Hit.Women. You ‘roided out piece of shit.” Luke’s voice was low and calm, but no less angry.
Zack spat blood onto the gritty parking lot surface.
“Not so tough without your lackeys to hold me back, huh?” Luke asked, referencing his almost-healed cheekbone.
“You will regret this.” Zack was up and walking away, probably more quickly than he’d admit later.
“Not even for a second,” Luke shot back, shaking out his hand. “V, get in the car.”
I didn’t move for a moment, still in shock at what had transpired in the past ten minutes.
“V,” he said more gently, touching my arm and causing me to jump slightly. “It’s okay. Let me drive.” He firmly took the keys I’d finally found and guided me around to the passenger side.
“But. Your truck?” I knew somewhere in my brain it wasn’t important, but it was the only thought that showed up .
“It’s fine. Let’s just get you home.”
I allowed him to help me into the car. All of the adrenaline was leaving my body and being replaced by uncontrollable shaking.
From my pinky toes to my teeth, I couldn’t get a grip.
He placed himself in the driver’s seat and pulled out of the lot slowly.
I could only assume he was checking to make sure Zack was not still on the premises.
“I, um, you were. Just…” And then the tears came.
Not just for what had occurred right then, but for all of it.
For losing a piece of myself to someone who could treat me that way, for allowing it, for making excuses, for being so weak that he would think he could…
I just cried. Not a girly cry. A big, ugly, hiccupping cry.
I sucked in breaths quickly, not able to get enough air.
“V. You have to take slower breaths. You’re going to hyperventilate. You’re okay. You’re safe. Just breathe.” He spoke in an even tone, like any sort of fluctuation in his voice might hurt me.
Purposefully, I slowed my breathing.
“I can’t. I can’t… I don’t…”
“You don’t owe me an explanation. You don’t owe anybody anything. You’re okay.”
I leaned out of the shoulder strap of my seatbelt and onto his shoulder, not caring that it was awkward.
I needed to feel something stable, and he immediately put his arm around me and pulled me in tighter.
His arms were warm, and I was freezing. My eyes remained closed tightly on the drive, as if I could keep out reality if I simply refused to acknowledge it.
The tears wouldn’t stop though. No matter how hard I tried to stay present and recognize that I was physically okay, my mind never stopped imagining what would have happened if Luke hadn’t shown up. The look that was in Zack’s eyes was almost happy—he enjoyed the power he had over me.
Vaguely, I realized Luke had shut off the ignition and was now holding me with both arms. I was home.